“Pittsburgh Penguins and Dallas Stars are the best fits for the Rangers forward”

It seems to be a foregone conclusion that forward Kaapo Kakko will move to the New York Rangers. The team’s decision to make the 23-year-old Finnish winger a healthy backup against the St. Louis Blues sent the message that things are getting worse between the Rangers and their former second overall pick.

The Rangers have been involved in virtually every trade rumor in the NHL, and that is only exacerbated by their shocking decision to trade captain Jacob Trouba and his $8 million cap hit. Now that Kakko is back out with the organization, the rumors surrounding him are circulating. The Minnesota Wild were the last team to be linked to the winger, but team writer Michael Russo quickly shut down any speculation. Although the Wild are not actively engaging in trade talks for Kakko, there are two teams that are perfect for a fresh start: the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Dallas Stars.

The Rangers will have a hard time completing a deal with their division rival, but the Penguins are the perfect landing spot for Kakko to revive his career. He would get a guaranteed top-six spot and a chance to play alongside Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby.

This would also give Kakko the time and space to develop into a top player, rather than the forced development that the Rangers have forced on him since he was signed. The Penguins wouldn’t need him as a franchise savior, but they could certainly use a talented scorer like Kakko to boost their hopes of getting into the Wild Card race.

This would likely be the Rangers’ ideal trade partner if they were to make a deal. The Stars play a structured offensive system that Kakko could fit into. He wouldn’t have to come in and be a high-scoring power forward or fit into some preconceived mold that his draft status gave him, he could just come in and be a part of the Dallas offense.

Trading Kakko from the West would also be the Rangers’ preferred destination. They don’t want to trade him within the division or conference and then lose their former top selection in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

The Rangers and Kakko are at a crossroads. The team had already agreed with Trouba and sent him out of town for a minimal return to ease the move and escape the high salary. Kakko isn’t a heavy signing, but he’s the second-likeliest option to further shake up New York’s locker room. Sending him to Pittsburgh or Dallas could give the Rangers solid options in return, but more importantly, would be a much better fit for Kakko to resurrect his career.

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